Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy diagnosis of rare earth doped optical glasses

In the present work, rare earth (Nd, Eu, Er, Ho) doped oxyfluoroborate glasses were studied using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique. It has been observed that rare earth elements other than the doped one also reveal their presence in the spectrum. In addition the spectral lines of elements constituting the glass matrix have also been observed. Different plasma parameters such as plasma temperature and electron density have been estimated. It is concluded that the LIBS is a potential technique to identify simultaneously the light elements (B, O, F) as well as the heavy elements (Fe, Ba, Ca, Eu, Nd, Ho, Er) present in optical glasses. (C) 2010 Optical Society of America